The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) changed the grading system for primary and secondary school teachers immediately after signing of the sh 54 billion Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) 2017 to 2021 between it and the three teachers unions.
TSC adopted the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG) as a way of grading and promoting teachers to various grades.
According to the Commission CPG are clear modalities designed to enable the Commission implement CBAs.
PROMOTION OF TEACHERS GRADE B5 TO C1
Grade B5 is the only grade found only in primary school teachers. Grade B5 also known as Primary Teacher II is the entry grade for all primary school teachers and is in T-Scale 5. All newly employed teachers fall under this category.
A newly recruited teacher in primary school will start in job group B5. A teacher in Grade B5 will automatically be promoted to Grade C1 after serving for three years.
According to CPG no additional education or any interview is needed for promoting teachers from B5 to C1. One is only required to have served for 3 years in B5 to be moved to C1 automatically.
PROMOTION OF TEACHERS GRADE C1 TO C2
In primary school, teachers who have spent three years in Grade B5 are automatically moved to Grade C1.
Primary school teachers in Grade C1 are also known as Primary Teacher I and are in T-Scale 6.
Promotion of primary school teachers in Grade C1 to C2 is not automatic. Infact in primary school Grade C2 belongs to Senior Teachers.
Grade C2 is a promotional grade for primary school teachers. It is also an entry grade into the administrative cadre. Entry into this grade is competitive and subject to availability of vacancies.
For a primary school teacher to be promoted from Grade C1 to Grade C2 he/she must apply online when TSC makes an advert.
He/she must also have served for at least three years in Grade C1 in addition to having the required qualifications which is a minimum of a Diploma.
In secondary school Grade C1 is the entry grade for Diploma teachers. Secondary school teachers with Diplomas enter this grade immediately after recruitment.
A secondary school teacher in Grade C1 is also known as Secondary Teacher II.
Secondary school Diploma teachers in Grade C1 will then move to Grade C2 automatically after serving for three years.
Kindly note that all teachers in areas classified as ASAL and Hard to staff areas are promoted on affirmative action.
PROMOTION OF TEACHERS GRADE C2 TO C3
In primary school Grade C2 belongs to senior teachers. This is a promotional grade for primary school teachers.
It is also an entry grade into the administrative cadre. Entry into this grade is not automatic but competitive and subject to availability of vacancies.
For one to be appointed to this grade he/she must have served as Primary Teacher I in T-Scale 6 for a minimum period of three years.
TSC also has a plan to promote practicing primary school teachers with degree in secondary option to teach in secondary schools.
Primary school teachers deployed to teach in secondary schools start at Grade C2.
In secondary school Grade C2 is a promotional grade for Diploma teachers. Diploma teachers in Grade C1 are automatically promoted to Grade C2 after serving for three years.
For a secondary school Diploma teacher in Grade C2 to move to Grade C3, he/she must attend a promotional interview. Its not automatic.
In secondary school Grade C2 is also the entry grade for Graduate Teachers. All secondary school teachers with degree enter this grade upon employment by TSC.
Secondary school Graduate teachers then automatically move to Grade C3 after serving for three years.
Below are different salaries and allowances paid to teachers in Grade B5, C1, C2 and C3
BASIC SALARY
| Grade | TSC Scale | Basic Pay Minimum | Basic Pay Maximum |
| B5 | 5 | 21,756 | 27,195 |
| C1 | 6 | 27,195 | 33,994 |
| C2 | 7 | 34,955 | 43,694 |
| C3 | 8 | 43,154 | 53,943 |
COMMUTER ALLOWANCE
| Grade | TSC Scale | Commuter Allowance |
| B5 | 5 | 4,000 |
| C1 | 6 | 4,000 |
| C2 | 7 | 5,000 |
| C3 | 8 | 6,000 |
DISABILITY GUIDE ALLOWANCE
| Grade | TSC Scale | Disability Guide Allowance |
| B5 | 5 | 20,000 |
| C1 | 6 | 20,000 |
| C2 | 7 | 20,000 |
| C3 | 8 | 20,000 |
LEAVE ALLOWANCE
| Grade | TSC Scale | Annual Leave Allowance |
| B5 | 5 | 4,000 |
| C1 | 6 | 4,000 |
| C2 | 7 | 6,000 |
| C3 | 8 | 6,000 |
HOUSE ALLOWANCE
| Grade | TSC Scale | Hse1 Nairobi | Hse2 -Major Municipalities- Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri, Eldoret, Thika, Kisii and Kitale | Hse3 -Other former Minor Municipalities | Hse4 – alI other areas |
| BS | 5 | 6,750 | 4,500 | 3,850 | 3,200 |
| C1 | 6 | 10,000 | 7,500 | 5,800 | 4,200 |
| C2 | 7 | 16,500 | 12,800 | 9,600 | 7,500 |
| C3 | 8 | 28,000 | 22,000 | 16,500 | 13,000 |
HARDSHIP ALLOWANCE
| Grade | TSC Scale | Hardship Allowance |
| B5 | 5 | 6,600 |
| C1 | 6 | 8,200 |
| C2 | 7 | 10,900 |
| C3 | 8 | 12,300 |